Morning by Morning, February 19, 2025 - “Consider It Pure Joy”? Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Light arise and shine in me and through my life today (Isaiah 60:1). ... As I wait on You, this Word comes to mind: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). Almost everybody I know seems to be going through many battles, facing many trials, encountering many testings of faith. Some see it as spiritual warfare. Some see it as spiritual backlash or counterattack for the advancing of the Kingdom of God in their lives, their community, their nation, our world. Some see it as suffering through the consequences of sin that goes all the way back to the choices of Adam and Eve, with the cycles and patterns of iniquity that rolled down through the generations. Some see it as the ongoing challenges of living life in a broken and fallen world, full of broken and fallen people, along with the influence of broken and fallen spiritual enemies. Some see it as the very hand of God, with thoughts that are higher than our thoughts and ways that are higher than our ways for His divine purposes. Regardless of the source of whatever we’re going through, how in the world are we to “Consider it pure joy” whenever we face whatever we’re going through? ... As I wait and listen for Your leading, what comes to my heart and up to my mind is this: “The joy is not in what you are going through. The joy is in knowing that whatever it is, whatever its source, I AM with you; and I AM working within you to draw you nearer to Me and even making you more like Me.” ... Yes, Lord. Some Scriptures from Your Written Word come to my spirit immediately, as I seek to discern and test this spoken word in my heart: “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11). Thank You for Your perspective. Thank You for lifting my eyes to see Your greater glory and Your deeper work in whatever I go through, no matter the source of my struggles. By the mercy of Your grace, help me keep looking to You, embracing You, allowing You to even “fill me with joy in Your Presence” so near to me, as You keep forming and revealing “(Your) life” in (my) mortal body.”
Be encouraged today. In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you experience the pure joy of the Presence of the Lord so near to you and at work within you, no matter what you go through and no matter the source of your trials, in Jesus'name. God bless you, my friend! And you have a great day!
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Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries 502 North Milam Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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